Print debris collection system

ABSTRACT

A method and system for printing on a surface of a plurality of food products. The system comprises a printer configured for printing edible ink on a surface of the food products and a removable debris collection tray for catching food product debris positioned within the printer and configured to capture debris generated during at least one of delivery of food products to the printer, printing on the food products, and removal of printed food products from the printer. The printer has a print head and a receiving arm supported by the printer and extendable and retractable across a path of a print head of the printer for delivery and return of food products to a position below the print head for printing thereon. The removable debris collection tray is at least partially positioned below a travel path of the food product within the printer and between the print head and receiving arm.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/894,323, filed on Aug. 30, 2019, the contents of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Printing with edible ink on food products is done for purposes of identifying, marking, decorating or personalizing the food product. For example, food products such as cookies can be passed under a print head ejecting edible ink on the top surface of the cookie, whether iced or plain, can be printed with a selected design.

Currently, a conveyor belt system or tray is used where one or more cookies are spaced apart in an array on the conveyor belt or tray and passed below the print head of the printer. Alternatively, labels comprised of edible paper can be printed with edible ink and applied to a food item with an edible adhesive such as frosting or icing.

Systems of the prior art that are able to print images on an array of food products supported on a conveyor belt or a tray with two or more columns of food products requires a larger and more expensive printer on the scale of a commercial printer. Such systems also usually require sophisticated sensing systems to locate the position of each food item for printing.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a printing system for printing images or content with edible ink on a surface of an edible food product. The edible food product printer of the present disclosure allows a user to print edible ink directly on food products at both low and higher volumes of food products.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system for printing on a surface of a plurality of food products. The system comprises a printer configured for printing edible ink on a surface of the food products and a removable debris collection tray for catching food product debris positioned within the printer and configured to capture debris generated during at least one of delivery of food products to the printer, printing on the food products, and removal of printed food products from the printer.

The printer has a print head and a receiving arm supported by the printer and extendable and retractable across a path of a print head of the printer for delivery and return of food products to a position below the print head for printing thereon. The removable debris collection tray is at least partially positioned below a travel path of the food product within the printer and between the print head and receiving arm.

In one or more embodiments, the debris collection tray comprises a floor with sidewalls extending upwardly therefrom with an open top section for catching food product debris therein.

In one or more embodiments, the debris collection tray has a length and width wherein the length extends substantially from a first position below a retracted position of the receiving arm for printing on the food product and a second position below an extended position of the receiving arm where the arm receives and returns food product to a delivery tray.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a method of catching and removing debris from a system for printing on a surface of food products. Catching and removing debris from a printer configured for printing edible ink on a surface of the food products and printing on a surface of one or more food products includes collecting debris from the one or more food products within the printer with a debris collecting mechanism positioned within the printer and removing the debris collecting mechanism from the printer. The debris collecting mechanism can then be cleaned or cleared of the debris and the mechanism replaced in the printer for catching and removing debris from subsequent printing processes.

The debris collecting mechanism is positioned below a print area within the printer. Further, the debris collecting mechanism is positioned below a travel path of the food products within the printer.

In one or more embodiments, the debris collecting mechanism is a tray.

Yet another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a removable debris collecting mechanism for a printer, the debris collecting mechanism comprising a tray having a floor and integral perimeter side walls configured for catching debris from substrates printed on by the printer and tray positioned within the printer below a travel path of the substrate within the printer.

In one or more embodiments, the debris comprises crumbs as the substrate is a food product.

In one or more embodiments, the debris collection tray is constructed of stainless steel, aluminum, or combinations thereof.

In one or more embodiments, the plurality of food products are edible elements having a substantially flat surface, cookies, frosting sheets, rice paper, or combinations thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a food product printing system.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a food product printing system with a cover portion opened for exposing interior portions of a printer portion of the system.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the food product printing system without a cover to show internal components.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the printing system opened about a hinged connection for access to the interior components.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the debris tray on a base portion of the printer.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the food product printing system with food product for printing loaded thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A food product printing system of the present disclosure includes a printer system for printing an image on a surface of the food product. The print surface may be an actual surface of the food product itself. The printer system comprises a printer having a receiving arm and a delivery tray supported on a base. The system may also be provided with a plurality of different delivery trays, each tray configured for continuous delivery of a varied number of food products, and/or for food products of different or specific dimensions.

The receiving arm is configured for receiving a food product from the delivery tray and moving the food product from the delivery tray into the printer and into a printing position. The printing position is substantially below a print head of the printer such that the surface to be printed on is in the path of the print head. Once the food product is printed, the receiving arm then returns the printed food product to the delivery tray. The delivery tray is also configured to move in one or more directions in order to continuously and automatically deliver a plurality of food items sequentially to the receiving arm.

The printer system is further configured with a debris collection system, wherein for example, the debris comprises crumbs of the food product printed thereon. All or substantially all of the debris, such as the crumbs generated by the food products during the printing process and the handoff between the delivery tray and receiving arm are collected on and/or in one easily removable and easily cleanable debris tray.

The debris tray is removably positioned within a print area of the printing system and generally below the area in which the food product traverses between delivery and return after printing as well as the area in which the surface of the food product is actually printed on.

In one embodiment, the food product printer system is hingedly openable for access to the print area and thus access to the debris tray. A hinged connection is provided between an upper printer body and a support base of the printer system. The print area for the food products is within a space or cavity formed between the upper print body and the support base. For example, the support base has dimensions that provide a height to the print area and the cavity therearound within the printer system. The upper printer body supports many of the operational components of the printer system such as a print head and the gantry along which the print head is moveable, supports ink tank installations, and one or more of control and power components to the printer system. However, the support base may also comprise one or more power or control components for the printer system. One or more hinges or hinged-like connection systems are provided along one perimeter edge in the back of the printer system to operably connect the upper print body to the support base such that the printer is openable from a front area for access to the components supported by either the upper print body or the support base and for access to the print area and any components therein including the debris tray, which is removably supported on the base support.

One embodiment of the printing system 10 is illustrated generally in FIGS. 1-6. The printing system 10 is configured to receive a food product 12 from a delivery tray 22, to print on a surface of the food product 12 and return the food product 12 to the delivery tray 22. The system is also configured to do so automatically and continuously for a pre-determined number of food items. The system 10 comprises a printer 14 having a print head 16 and nozzles (not shown) wherein the print head 16 and nozzle are configured for printing with edible ink. The printer 14 also supports an extendable and retractable receiving arm 20.

The receiving arm 20 is operably connected to a power source within the printer 14. The receiving arm 20 is extendable and retractable with respect to the position of the path of the print head 16. The receiving arm 20 has a first end and a second opposing end and a substantially flat receiving surface extending therebetween. The first end is operably connected to a mechanism for retracting and extending the arm 20. The second end and at least a portion of the receiving surface of the receiving arm 20 are configured for extending outwardly from the printer 14. When extended, the receiving arm 20 may receive a food product, hold a food product, and/or return a printed food product to the delivery tray 22. The receiving arm also holds or supports the food product within the printer 14 and during printing on the surface of the food product 12.

With respect to the printer 14, the print head 16 moves linearly back and forth along a gantry in the manner of a standard inkjet printer for ejecting (edible) ink towards the print surface and thus printing pre-selected content on a print surface positioned below the path of the print head 16. The printer 14 is in communication with a controller (not shown) wherein software may be used to control printing of the content on one or a plurality of food products.

In further detail, the receiving arm 20 moves in a direction perpendicular to the print head path such that the receiving arm 20 extends and retracts across or through the path of the print head 16. In one embodiment, the receiving arm 20 is a substantially flat, rectangular support plate which extends towards a holder 26 of the delivery tray 22 in order to engage with and remove the food product 12 from the delivery tray 22 as well as to return printed food products to the delivery tray. A top surface of the receiving arm 20 is a receiving surface for food product and may be textured or otherwise provided with a surface to increase a co-efficient of friction between the receiving arm 20 and the food product for retaining the food product on the arm 20.

The receiving arm extends to receive or return the food product 12 and retracts from the tray 22 into the printer 14 and into a position below the print head 16 for printing. Once content is printed on a food product, the receiving arm 20 then extends to return the food product 12 back to the delivery tray 22. The delivery tray 22 then advances to provide a second unprinted food product 12 to the receiving arm 20. The receiving arm 20 is also configured for vertical movement such that the receiving surface of the receiving arm 20 is movable between two positions, a raised and a lowered position, where these positions allow the receiving arm 20 to retrieve and return food products 12 with respect to the delivery tray 22, and may allow for advancing of the delivery tray 22 when the receiving arm 20 is extended. Once loaded, the receiving arm 20 is then retracted to the printing position with the food product 12 thereon. This process continues on continuously and automatically per a pre-determined amount of food products are printed. It is also contemplated that the delivery tray may also be raised or lowered in order to allow for the delivery tray 22 to advance to a subsequent holder 26 or opening 28 on the delivery tray 22 for automatically delivering, receiving and thus printing on a plurality of food items.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the delivery tray is positioned adjacent or near the printing system, and is operably supported on a base (not illustrated) for providing power and controlling advancement and vertical positioning of the delivery tray 22. The delivery tray 22 may rotate or advance in a linear manner, or other directional movement which advances the delivery tray from one opening 28 to the next adjacent opening 28. In one non-limiting embodiment, the delivery tray 22 rotates about the operable connection with the base.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4-5, a debris collection system 102 comprises a debris tray 110 that is removably positioned within the print area 18 of the printing system 10. The debris tray 110 may be rectangular in shape so as to fit within the print area 18 of the printing system and catch the debris generated therein. For example, the debris tray has a floor 112 and perimeter side walls 114, 116, 118 but is open along its front to receive items for printing and along its top to receive and collect debris from the printer system 10.

The debris tray 110 may be comprised of a metal such as stainless steel or aluminum, the tray 110 may also be comprised of plastic or other durable but lightweight materials that are easily cleanable for reuse. The debris tray 110 for example can be rinsed, washed, or wiped and dried clean between uses and can withstand sanitization procedures and soaps. The debris tray 110 is removable and replaceable.

In embodiments where the printer system 10 is a hinged printed system 10 or otherwise configured for hingedly opening to the print area as illustrated in FIG. 4 for example, the debris collection tray 110 is positioned in a space 152 between a upper printer body 150 and a support base 160 of the printer system 10. The print area for the food products is within the space or cavity 152 formed between the upper print body 150 and the support base 160. As the support base 160 has dimensions that provide a height to the print area allowing the food products to be delivered from outside of the printer system 10 into the cavity 152 and below the print head 16 within the print area in an unobstructed manner wherein the upper printer body 150 supports the print head thereabove. While, the upper printer body 152 supports many of the operational components of the printer system such as a print head 16 and the gantry along which the print head is moveable, supports ink tank installations, and one or more of control and power components to the printer system, the support base 152 supports at least the debris collection system 100. The debris tray 110 is removably connectable to a floor 162 of the support base 160 by sliding therein or by way of clips, channels or other mating connectors which allow for securing the debris tray 110 in the cavity 152 below the food product path in the printer system 10 in a manner that is easily removable for cleaning.

The debris collection and removal tray 110 may also support a spent ink collection and filtration system 100.

To remove debris such as crumbs and clean the debris tray 110 for further uses, the printer system 10 is opened about a hinged connection 170 to expose the cavity 152 for easy removal and replacement of the debris tray 110.

In the illustrated embodiments the food product is a dessert item such as a cookie. However, while examples of food items include various shapes, sizes, and types of cookies, the food items that can be printed with this system are not so limited. Frosting sheets, rice paper, bakery goods having at least one substantially flat surface for printing an image thereon, and other food items may be printed using this system. The delivery tray may be configured with positioning mechanisms which are tailored to the specific shape, size, thickness, type etc. of food product to be printed and thus, the system may be provided as a kit including the printer described herein including receiving arm and one or more delivery trays of various sizes, dimensions and for delivery of one or more different food products or food products having different dimensions.

The system is further configured with one or more control boards in communication with a computer or controller for configuring and initiating the printing process. However, the delivery tray is configured with one or more positioning mechanisms such that in combination with the receiving arm as a food product is delivered to the printer and positioned below the print head, the need for a sensing system or series of sensors for detecting the position of the food product is eliminated. A sensor may be utilizing in the printer for confirming the presence of the food product in the printer for printing. The sensors may be positioned on the print head and used to detect only the presence of the substrate for printing. The system is a fixed spot printing system so there is no need for scanning for position of the print surface. The system also allows for loading of unprinted food products and unloading of printed food products during printing or otherwise “on the fly.” The control board or boards allow for the delivery of a first food product, printing of the first food product, return of the first food product, advancing of the delivery tray to provide a second food product for delivery, delivery of the second food product, printing of the second food product, return of the second food product to the delivery tray and advancing for delivery of one or more subsequent food products for printing and return. Thus, the system allows for the automatic delivery, printing on and return of a plurality of food products.

Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. 

1. A system for printing on a surface of a plurality of food products, the system comprising: a printer configured for printing edible ink on a surface of the food products; and a removable debris collection tray for catching food product debris positioned within the printer and configured to capture debris generated during delivery of food products to the printer, printing on the food products, or removal of printed food products from the printer.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the printer comprises: a print head; a receiving arm supported by the printer and extendable and retractable across a path of a print head of the printer for delivery and return of food products to a position below the print head for printing thereon; and wherein the removable debris collection tray is at least partially positioned below a travel path of the food product within the printer and between the print head and receiving arm.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the debris collection tray comprises a floor with sidewalls extending upwardly therefrom with an open top section for catching food product debris therein.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the debris collection tray is constructed of stainless steel, aluminum, or combinations thereof.
 5. The system of claim 2, wherein the debris collection tray has a length and width wherein the length extends substantially from a first position below a retracted position of the receiving arm for printing on the food product and a second position below an extended position of the receiving arm where the arm receives and returns food product to a delivery tray.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the printer is configured to print on a substantially flat surface of each of the plurality of food products.
 7. A method of catching and removing debris from a system for printing on a surface of food products, the method comprising: providing a printer configured for printing edible ink on a surface of the food products and printing on a surface of one or more food products; and collecting debris from the one or more food products within the printer with a debris collecting mechanism positioned within the printer; removing the debris collecting mechanism from the printer and cleaning the debris collecting mechanism to remove the collected debris; and replacing the debris collecting mechanism in the printer.
 8. The method of claim 7 and further comprising positioning the debris collecting mechanism below a print area within the printer.
 9. The method of claim 7 and further comprising positioning the debris collecting mechanism below a travel path of the food products within the printer.
 10. The method of claim 7 wherein the debris collecting mechanism is a tray.
 11. The method of claim 7 wherein the debris comprises crumbs.
 12. A removable debris collecting mechanism for a printer, the debris collecting mechanism comprising a tray having a floor and integral perimeter side walls with an open top and open front section and configured for catching debris from substrates printed on by the printer and the tray removably positioned within the printer below a travel path of the substrate within the printer. 